Classifier for fibrous materials.



R. M. EVANS. CLASSIFIER POR FIBROUS`MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18, 1911. 1,036,475. Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

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/ Mme( @www ROBERT iu. EVANS, or nvnnnfr'r, WASHINGTON, AssIeNon ro HOWARD PULP rnoenss co., or nvnnnrr, WASHINGTON, A coRronA'rroN or WASHINGTON.

CLASSIFIR FOR FIBROUS MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 20, 1912.

application ated December 1s, l1911. serial' No. 666,589.

This invention relates to' lmprovements in classifier-s for separating fibrous vegetable material in the manufacture of wood-pulp.

The object of the present invention is the provision of improved means for withdrawing4 the largerclassed material from the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved water inlet devices to automatically regulate the rate of flow of water through the apparatus.

s't-ilfl further' object of the invention' is to lintroduce said infiowing waterinto the apparatus through thel passage through which the coarser material is withdrawn causing the current of incoming water to .impinge upon said material and more t-horong-lily free therefrom the finer fiber bundles entangled in the mass. y

The invention consists in the -novel construction of a olassier, and in the combination and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa verticallyr sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is' a fragmentary perspectivel view of the elevating devices.

The reference numeral 1 designates a receptacle whose walls converge downwardly to a vmedial portion termed the throat 2 which i-n turn connects with a subjacent settling chamber 3.

4fdesignates a gutter about the upper peripheral .edge of the receptacle provided with an outlet-5. leading into a launder or other conveyer 6. A funnel shaped hopper 7 is rigidly retained in spaced position relative to the receptacle through brackets 8 to afford an opening 9 for the passage of water and material therebetween- A The upper rim of said hopper projects. above the upper edge of said receptacle and the gutter while the lower contracted opening or orifice 10 is positioned somewhat above said -throat 2. A conveyer shaft 11 inclined somewhat withy respect to the axis. of the iwith a float 28. l'open or close the valve to maintain the water level in the trough at a predetermined.

lthe upper edge of the receptacle 1. apart ithe chamber 3 may be'positioned l distance above the upper' edge of the receptaele and is provided with a pair of conveyer link-belts 15 spaced apart and mounted at the upper end of the shaft over spaced power driven sprocket wheels 1G and its lower end about sprockets 17 Whose axes may be -`concentric with the bottom 14.. Pairs ofidler-sprockets 18 may be provided to give proper direction to the belts. At regular intervals said belts carry therebetween perforated bucketsg19 secured tothe links at their ends. Immediately above the level of thev upper edge of 'said receptacle said conveyer shaft is formed with a relatively large opening 20 about the outer edge of which is secured to form a water-'tight connection a water-trough 21. Said trough is provided with self-regulating water inlet devices of any suitable construction. That; illustrated herewith consists in' afwater' supi' a ply pipe 22V connected to said trough throughv a valve casing 23 provided with centrally apertured diaphragm 24 forming a valve seat; a valve member 25 closing upwardly with the pressure upon said seat; and a valve stem 26 having its upper end extending into said/trough and provided therein Said float is adjusted toheight, usually two or three inches above Spaced direct-riX plates 29 secured along their lateral vertical edges to the chamber walls and adapted to conduct the ascending water therebetween with a minimum of surging and cross currents.

In operation, fibrous material and waterl is introduced within the hopper and issues through the force of gravity through the orifice 10 whereupon it encounters an ascending bod-y of Water. The respective sizes of the iberfbundles composing said material and their relative resistance to the upward; current of water determines the classification of the material into two grades, the smaller bundles having a larger surface and proportionate to bulk being carried upward by the currents of water to be deposited in the gutter .ttvwhile the larger fiber bundles 'settle against said current into-chamber 3 where they accumulate and are picked up by said buckets. Water is admitted in relatively large volume through the inlet opening' 20 and is maintained at a slightly higher level' than the upper-...edge of the receptacle, the difference in levels causing a current downwardly of the shaft 11 through the opening 13 into the chamber -3 and thence upwardly overflowing the edge of the receptacle into the gutter 4 carrying therewith the suspended lighter fiber-bundles. The conveyer buckets 19 are driven in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig. 1 and descend with the current in the shaft 11 while the ascending buckets more or less' filled with the coarser fibrous material are elevated against the descending stream. With the descending stream of clear water penetrating the accumulated fibrous 'mass retained in the several perforated buckets the coarser fiber bundles are thoroughly washed and freed from entangled or adhering finer fibrous material. Such smaller fibrous material, owing to the more rapid velocity of the water in the shaft is thereupon quite certainly carried upwardly and deposited with other material of its class. The loaded bucketsare progressively carried upwardly past the water inlet opening Q0 where they emerge from the water. They may desirably be conveyed for a distance above such water level to afford opportunity for the water' to partially drain therefrom and carried over the upper sprockets 16 whereat they are inverted and deposit their load in a suitable receiver, as a launder 30 wherein they may be conveyed to the proper oint.

While the proportions of the various parts of my apparatus as shown are not essential I consider it advantageous to main; tain a relatively rapid flow downwardly in the conveyer shaft to afford a large opening between such shaft and the chamber 3 that the incoming water may flow into the chamber with littledisturbance, and a chamber and receptacle of ample proportions so that the velocity upward will be about halfthat of the downcoming current.

What I claim, is- Y l. In a classifier for fibrous material, a discharge shaft, means in said shaft for moving coarser classified material to a discharge spout, and water inlet devices admitting water in said shaft to flow counter to t-he direction of said moved material.

2. In a classifier for fibrous material, a receptacle, a shaft having a discharge spout above the level of the upper edge of the receptacle and having connection at its lower end with the lower end of the receptacle, a conveyer for removing segregated material to said discharge spout, and water inlet devices admitting water to said receptacle through said shaft.l

l 3. .In a classifier for fibrous material, a receptacle, a shaft having a discharge spout above the level of the upper edge .of the receptacle and having connection at its lower end with the lower end of the receptacle, a conveyer for removing segregated material to said discharge'spout, and water inlet devices in said shaft intermediate said spout and the level of the upper edge of the receptacle.

4. In a classifier for fibrous material, a receptacle having a settling chamber at its lower end, a discharge shaft opening at its lower'end into said chamber, a conveyer in said shaft for moving the coarser material from the settling chamber to a discharge spout above the level of the upper edge of the receptacle, and water inlet devices admitting water to said receptacle ,through said shaft.

5. In a classifier for fibrous material, a receptacle having a settling chamber at its lower end, a discharge shaft opening at its lower end into said chamber provided with water inlet devices above the level 'of the upper edge of said receptacle, and a conveyer in said shaft. y

6. In a classifier for fibrous material, a receptacle provided with an open upper end and a settling chamber at its lower end, a hopper adapted to introduce material inter 4mediate said upper end into said chamber, a

discharge shaft having its lower end opening into said chamber and its upper end positione'd above the top of said receptacle, means for conveying material from the settling chamber to a discharge spout in said shaft, and water intake devices in said shaft.

7. In a classifier for fibrous material, a receptacle provided with an open upper end and asettling chamber at its lower end, a hopper adapted'to introduce material intermediate said upper end into said chamber, a discharge shaft having its lower end opening into said chamber and its -upper end positioned above the top of said receptacle, means for conveying material from the settling chamber to a discharge spout in said shaft, and water intake devices in said shaft above the level of the upper end of the re E. PETERSON. 

